Fearful

Champion Day 11 Just An Ordinary Girl

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Micah 5:1-6
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2
John 2:1-11

Champion, Day 11

“Mary, did you know,
When you kiss your little baby,
You kiss the face of God?
Mary, did you know,
Your baby boy is Heaven’s Perfect Lamb
The sleeping Child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am!”
(Mary, Did You Know? Mark Lowry)

Just a girl. Young. Uncertain. Fearful.
An ordinary girl. Chosen. Faithful. Qualified.
As we continue to study God as our champion, we’ll see Him at work in Mary, an ordinary Hebrew girl.

Common.
Just a common girl from the “fork in the road” city of Nazareth, Mary was not well-known among her people, but was seen by her God. She was like us, sometimes fearful, very uncertain, but chosen by the One Who created her in His image. (Genesis 1:27)

When she was visited by Gabriel and informed she would bear the long-awaited Messiah, Mary was “deeply troubled.” (Luke 1:29) How could this be? Me, chosen by God, to carry the Messiah? 

While she was most likely familiar with God’s promise of a Rescuer, could Mary truly understand how God would work through her, an ordinary girl, to save the whole world?

Birthed in Bethlehem and nurtured in Nazareth, Jesus was also raised in a very ordinary way. He was common among His people, but soon would be rejected by His own. But Jesus already knew what those around Him could not; His death was the plan of the Heavenly Father! Jesus was chosen to fulfill God’s plans to save the world.

Like Mary, we may not be well-known, but sisters, each one of us is seen by our God!
The One who has promised us “a future and hope” in Him! (Jeremiah 29:11)

Commissioned.
The custom in Mary’s time was for mothers to teach their children at home. Mary was taught not only household tasks, but also about Scriptures and the long-awaited coming of the Messiah. She knew of and believed in God’s promises, including His promises to her through Gabriel. God had appointed her to be the virgin who would carry His Son. (Isaiah 7:14)

Mary’s acceptance showed her love for Messiah and her true surrender to His plan. Mary’s embrace of her commission led to Jesus’ Greater Commission of discipling and teaching the Eleven to share salvation’s story to all who would listen. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Competent.
Only through God was Mary capable of fulfilling God’s promise. She was to be the vessel to birth the Promised One, Immanuel (Luke 1:31-32). The Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the child born would be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). When Mary surrendered to God, He made her competent.

Even with Mary’s uncertainty, she did not waver in saying, “May it happen to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38) In just nine verses (Luke 1:30-38), she surrendered her life and her fears to God’s plan, replying, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Her willingness to be obedient to God was EXTRA-ordinary!

Even knowing what awaited Him at the cross, Jesus also chose surrender to the Father.
“Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”(Matthew 26:39)

With His life, He surrenders unto His Father, so we could have eternal life. His willingness to go to the cross was extravagant!

Committed.
From birth to death, Mary was devoted to her Son. She treasured and meditated on her experiences around His birth in her heart (Luke 2:19), and she watched Him grow in stature and wisdom throughout His childhood. (Luke 2:52)

During His earthly ministry, Mary naturally walked beside her Son. She was at the wedding of Cana where Jesus turned water into wine. (John 2:1-5) The obedience of His own mother was evident as she instructed the disciples to do whatever He asked. Finally, she looked on as her Son suffered on the cross. She remained committed to the end. Or was it the beginning?

Mary was obedient to God’s call. She was willing to do all God said, despite uncertainty.
She fully surrendered her fears, and her life, to the One Who created her.

Mary’s life drastically changed with Gabriel’s declaration over her life, but even so she praised her God for His faithfulness. (Luke 1:46-55) Her life was interwoven with one distinct and very important variable, God! The Same God Who chose Mary is the same God Who chose her Son, Jesus, to go to the cross.

In like manner, God chooses us. Even in our ordinary lives, God is the One Who makes all things possible! (Matthew 19:26) He can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary when we surrender our everything to Him!

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Champion Day 9 Fearful Made Fierce: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Fearful Made Fierce!

The Questions

1) How do we “keep on growing” in knowledge and discernment? (verse 9)

2) How do we “approve the things that are superior”? (verse 10)

3) What is the “fruit of righteousness” that comes from Christ? (verse 11)

Philippians 1:3-11

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Original Intent

1) How do we “keep on growing” in knowledge and discernment? (verse 9)
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we recognize warmth and respect shared between author and recipients. Writing to thank them for support of his ministry and to commend a fellow laborer, he admonishes them to continue to press on to be ever more like Christ. What then was he speaking of as he referred to growing in knowledge and discernment? He was encouraging them to focus on the teaching of Jesus and knowing Him deeply, which would result in growing in His love apart from a performance tied to keeping the Old Testament law. The Bible is divided into two central teachings, Old Testament and New Testament. All Scripture is God-breathed, meaning it is inspired by God and is useful for teaching. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Before Christ, the instructions were centered around the prophets’ Old Testament laws and instructions. After Christ’s resurrection, the laws concerning sacrifices and rituals around cleansing and food restrictions were no longer relevant for Christ came to perfectly fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17) Paul encouraged the Philippians to grow in their knowledge of Christ, but how were they to do this if all they knew were Old Testament laws? He urged them to watch out for those who claim the old laws were the only way to salvation. (verses 2-3) He instructed them to recall the new knowledge they had learned about Christ. (verse 10) Finally, Paul directed them to grow in wisdom and discernment by increasing their love for Christ and one another, which naturally comes from knowing Him more fully. (verses 9-11)

2) How do we “approve the things that are superior”? (verse 10)
Christ came to fulfill the law on our behalf because it’s impossible for sinful humans to be perfect or somehow attain righteousness on our own (Romans 3:23); we need Someone Perfect to be righteous for us. (Matthew 5:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21) In Jesus’ day, all the laws found in the Old Testament, including the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21) and animal sacrifice, were regularly practiced by the Jewish community. Until the ministry of John the Baptist, the Law was the guidepost, or guardian, for what holiness looked like, but when Jesus came, He opened the door to access God through faith in Christ. (Galatians 3:22-26) From that point, the gospel of freedom from sin and eternal hope has continued to be shared. (Luke 16:16) Christ was the perfect sacrifice who died and was resurrected from the dead in order to save sinners from the eternal condemnation of death deserved for sin. (Romans 3:21-26, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Timothy 1:15) How does all this relate with approving the things which are superior in Philippians 1:10? Later in his letter, Paul names the superior thing as knowing Christ, “I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. […] My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death […].” (Philippians 3:8, 10) Christ is the fulfillment of all things superior. Everything of excellence carries His mark, which is why Paul closes his letter with the reminder, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8)

3) What is the “fruit of righteousness” that comes from Christ? (verse 11)
Jesus often taught by using parables, which were stories His audience could easily relate with because of common knowledge and cultural norms. Christ cursed a fig tree (Mark 11:12-25), spoke of winnowing wheat (Matthew 3:12), and the true vine and vinedresser (John 15:1). While some parable-language may not carry much significance to our modern ears, the idea of farming and fruit still resonates with us. To help His audience understand how righteousness is evidenced in a person’s life, He used the analogy of fruit. The tree bears fruit, and so do our lives, but we must not miss the small details, “[T]he fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” A Christian’s righteousness cannot come from themselves, only Christ, and it is grown by the work of the Spirit who lives within all who belong to Christ. Paul purposed in his letter to explain this cultivating work of the Holy Spirit and what it looks like. The fruit, although displayed in various “flavors” or attributes in life, are each a manifestation of the Holy Spirit who is given to all who have trusted Christ as their personal Savior. The Spirit’s fruit “is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. (Galatians 5:22) Christ perfectly lived out each of these evidences of the Spirit of God throughout His earthly ministry.

Everyday Application

1) How do we “keep on growing” in knowledge and discernment? (verse 9)
When Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, there was no longer a need to sacrifice animals to absolve transgression. Christ took the punishment, which is death and separation from God, for each of our sins on the cross. To grow in knowledge and discernment is the goal of every Christ-follower. Those new to the faith should seek wisdom from Scripture and from other believers who have long walked with the Lord. Those who have lived many years with Jesus in their heart should continue to grow in their understanding of Scripture and engagement in biblical community. First, we must recognize we are new creatures when accepting Christ; the old ways of thinking have gone, and new life has appeared through Christ. (1 Corinthians 5.13) Next, we must learn to study the Bible correctly. (2 Timothy 2:15) In studying the Bible’s context, we learn how to worship (Psalm 100), why we have forgiveness for our trespasses in Jesus (1 John 1:9), practical ways for living in God-honor ways (Psalm 1:1-2), how to prepare for battle against Satan, our enemy (Ephesians 6:10-17), and much more! The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), containing everything we need to grow up in Christ (2 Peter 1:3). We were once held in the bondage of sin’s slavery, but in Jesus, we are called to walk in the freedom offered us by the love of Christ. We can only do this as we study the One who was the Word (Jesus) so that we may know Him and that He may dwell in us. (John 1:1)

2) How do we “approve the things that are superior”? (verse 10)
The Bible describes the human heart as deceitful above all things. (Jeremiah 17:9) If we use our hearts, emotions, or fleeting desires as the measure by which we approve what is superior, we will constantly be in error. We must choose to look to Christ, not the heart, to determine not simply “better”, but to clearly understand what is “best”. This kind of discernment is the wisdom James writes of in his letter, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) As Paul taught the Philippians to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable, there is no more excellent example of superiority than Jesus. (Philippians 4:8) Jesus, the Word, is Truth. (John 17:17) His actions were honorable, His reasons just, His motives pure, and His actions commendable. Jesus moved men’s hearts from obeying the law for the sake of obedience to showing love to all peoples no matter their gender (John 8:1-11), ethnicity, (John 4:7-39), or economic status (Mark 12:41-44). The more we lean into knowing the Lord Jesus Christ through studying His Word, prayer, and engaging in biblical community, as Paul modeled for us, the more we view everything through the lens of the Superior One, Christ Jesus!

3) What is the “fruit of righteousness” that comes from Christ? (verse 11)
At the click of a button, the television comes on. With the swipe of our fingers, we can find almost any piece of information we desire. We can purchase items and have them delivered with the tap of a finger. Satellites take pictures of places on earth where we will never travel. It seems we can have our wants satisfied and our desires fulfilled, yet many live with loneliness and despair. None of the convenient pleasures mentioned above were meant to bring joy. For a time, they may bring happiness, but to find joy, we must learn to live like Christ, whose delight was doing the will of his Father through the work of the Holy Spirit. (John 5:19, Hebrews 9:14) We can follow in the steps of Jesus in three specific ways. First, we must desire to be covered by Christ’s righteousness, which requires us to acknowledge our state as sinners eternally separated from God. (Matthew 5:6, Romans 3:23) When we ask God to cover us with the righteousness of Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, beginning His work of making us new. (2 Corinthians 5:21, John 14:26) Secondly, we must offer our bodies as living sacrifices as we surrender to the Spirit who cultivates His life in us! (Romans 12:1-2) Finally, we must never be lacking in zeal as we follow the Lord; He is to be the focal point of our everyday lives. (Romans 12:11-13) All of this is impossible on our own merits and efforts. Jesus came to perfectly fulfill the law on our behalf, so that He can now fill us with all the fullness of God and His power. (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 3:19) Then, we are free to live for Christ based on love, not laws. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Fearful Made Fierce!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Champion Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Fruitful Day 12 Cultivating Faithfulness: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Cultivating Faithfulness!

The Questions

1) Why would the Israelites prefer to die or return to the land of their captivity rather than venture into the Promised Land? (verse 4)

2) Why were Joshua and Caleb so eager to go into the Promised Land when everyone else was so fearful? (verses 6-9)

3) Why did the glory of the Lord appear at the tent of meeting when the Israelites threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb? (verse 10)

Numbers 14:1-10

Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite community, “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. 9 Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!” 10 While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.

Original Intent

1) Why would the Israelites prefer to die or return to the land of their captivity rather than venture into the Promised Land? (verse 4)
The Israelites’ journey from slavery in Egypt into the freedom of the Promised Land highlights God‘s faithfulness at every turn. The Lord empowered Moses to demand Pharaoh’s release of Israel (Exodus 5:1), God parted the Red Sea so they could cross over safely when the Egyptians pursued them (Exodus 14:21), He sent food from heaven in the desert (Exodus 16), and ensured their shoes didn’t wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5). God provided in many miraculous ways; He faithfully kept His covenant with Israel to protect and treasure them if they obeyed Him. (Exodus 19:5) Even with such a rich history of provision and protection by God, the Israelites despaired when they heard the intimidating report of Canaan. They preferred to return to a life of bondage rather than trust God to defeat their enemies in the Promised Land. According to author David Guzik, “This was pure rebellion. They said they didn’t want God’s plan, God’s leaders, or God’s land. They believed they knew better than God.” The pride and rebellion of the Israelites caused them to see God’s blessing as a curse and despise the gift God promised them. To modern readers, their lack of faith and gratitude seem outrageous, but may we also be guilty of the same? Any time we refuse to embrace what God has for us because it seems too difficult or too painful, we are committing the same sin of rebellion as the Israelites when they refused the Promised Land. We can be thankful God is merciful and forgiving, and we can ask Him for grace to follow His plans, trusting in His steadfast love and unwavering faithfulness to help us obey Him.

2) Why were Joshua and Caleb so eager to go into the Promised Land when everyone else was so fearful? (verses 6-9)
In Numbers 14:1-10, the Israelites are bemoaning their fate because the long-awaited Promised Land of Canaan is filled with formidable foes they are afraid to face. Only Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb want to enter and claim the land as God commanded. Joshua and Caleb had spied out the land and were eager to lay claim to God’s promise. They had faith in God, believing that He would give the Israelites the land He had promised them. If God promised it, then it would happen, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the promise. Author G. Campbell Morgan notes that Joshua and Caleb “had clear apprehension of the goodness of the land; they were by no means blind to the formidable nature of the difficulties that stood between them and possession. But they saw God. They started with that vision, and saw everything else in its light.” Where the other spies saw the strength and number of the land’s inhabitants, Joshua and Caleb saw the land flowing with milk and honey, just as God promised. If the promise of an excellent land had proved true, so would His promise to give them the land also be true and trustworthy. Joshua and Caleb’s belief in God’s faithfulness was stronger than any fear caused by the strength and number of their adversaries. May we also see God first and view everything else through that lens, just as Joshua and Caleb did.

3) Why did the glory of the Lord appear at the tent of meeting when the Israelites threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb? (verse 10)
When the Israelites reached the Promised Land they were dismayed to find its inhabitants were numerous and strong. They began blaming God for their miserable circumstances, even declaring that returning to slavery would be better than dying in battle. After hearing their incessant complaints, God had heard enough from the rebellious Israelites and decided to act. Numbers 14:10 tells us, “The glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.” The glory of the Lord had appeared to the congregation before as a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire to guide them through the wilderness. (Exodus 13:21) It was a visible reminder of God’s presence and activity. At this particular display of glory, God intended to dispel their whining and rebellion and reward those who believed in His Word and in His power. He stepped in just as the Israelites prepared to kill Joshua and Caleb. Author Joseph Benson points out, “When they reflected upon God, His glory appeared, not to silence their blasphemies: but when they threatened Caleb and Joshua, they touched the apple of His eye, and His glory appeared immediately. Those who faithfully expose themselves for God are sure of His special protection.” Israel’s rebellion ran so deep, God knew they wouldn’t choose faith over their fears. (Numbers 14:11) Moses interceded for Israel, God honored his prayers and decreed that from the nation, only Caleb and Joshua would be permitted to enter the Promised Land one day. (Numbers 14:30) God’s glory came down so His faithful servants would be spared and rewarded for their trust in Him, while also bringing consequence on Israel’s rebellion.

Everyday Application

1) Why would the Israelites prefer to die or return to the land of their captivity rather than venture into the Promised Land? (verse 4)
Have you ever seen a little kid so excited to go swimming but also too frightened to jump in the water? She knows Dad is right there to catch her. She knows all the other kids are splashing around in the water with no problems. Everything indicates it’s safe and enjoyable, but she just can’t overcome her fears and take the plunge. The Israelites in the Bible were a bit like this. They had longed to enter the Promised Land of Canaan for many years, but when they finally got there, after years of captivity in a foreign land, they were too scared of the inhabitants to lay claim to the land God promised them. When it came to choosing between fearing what they saw with their eyes or trusting the Unseen God, they chose their fears. The Lord promised to be with them and give them the land, but they chose to believe the fearful tales and not the covenant of their faithful God. Sometimes staying inside the pain we know is more comfortable than the unknown pain we are sure to endure on the way to our own Promised Land. This debilitating fear is why we stay in jobs and situations we don’t like, or sometimes even in relationships that are damaging. We fear the enormity of changes we would need to make, the unknowns of potential outcomes, and the pain we may encounter along the way. But God wants us to focus on His faithfulness and not our fears in every situation. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) He wants us to trust Him, even when our circumstances inspire fear. (Philippians 4:4-7) Isaiah 12:2 tells us, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.” God promises to be our salvation and our strength in our tough times. The path will sometimes be frightening and difficult, but He will never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8) When we choose to surrender our lives to God, trusting Him for our rescue from sin, He promises to never leave or forsake us; we will never be alone!

2) Why were Joshua and Caleb so eager to go into the Promised Land when everyone else was so fearful? (verses 6-9)
In elementary school, my class learned a dance routine to a rock song for P.E. class, but my parents disapproved of the lyrics. So, I sat in the nurse’s office during P.E. for a month while my classmates rocked out in the gym. Missing my favorite class was bad enough, but dealing with my classmates’ teasing was awful. I didn’t make things worse by trying to explain my parents’ position. Instead, I played the martyr and became the poor kid with the kooky parents who hated rock n’ roll. I couldn’t imagine trying to defend my family’s moral objections to the song lyrics. Knowing how hard it is to go against the crowd helps my perspective on Joshua and Caleb’s plight. In verses 6-9, the two men stand firmly against the entire nation of Israel who didn’t want to enter Canaan. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes, indicating their intense distress at the peoples’ distrust in God and disbelief in His promises. This wasn’t about their feelings of being “outcasts”, but about Israel’s heart-rejection of the God who had proven Himself faithful. They pleadingly reminded the people of God’s constant presence and ability to protect them and defeat their enemies if they trusted Him. Joshua and Caleb were full of faith in God’s faithfulness. The people, however, were not inspired by the exhortation from Joshua and Caleb. In fact, they were so angry with their unpopular message they picked up rocks to stone them! Only God’s intervention kept the two men safe. Forty years later, after most of the crowd got their wish and died before entering the Promised Land, Joshua and Caleb were found faithful and allowed to enter Canaan (Numbers 14:30) and enjoy God’s gift. May the Lord help us all to be as faithful and trusting as Joshua and Caleb!

3) Why did the glory of the Lord appear at the tent of meeting when the Israelites threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb? (verse 10)
There are many references to glory in church literature and Scripture. Sometimes glory means God’s presence (Exodus 24:16), a reference to Heaven (Psalm 73:24), or any place where God resides (1 Peter 5:10). It can also be used to mean radiant, divine beauty (Isaiah 6:3), or sometimes praise and adoration to God (Revelation 14:7). When God’s glory appeared to the Israelites in verse 10, glory references God’s presence. Here the glory of the Lord “refers to the reality of the LORD’s presence in a manifestation of his power and splendor. It showed to all that God was a living God. The appearance of the glory indicated blessing for the obedient, but disaster for the disobedient” (Preceptaustin.org) When God’s glory came to the Israelites, not only did God save Joshua and Caleb, but He allowed Moses to act on behalf of the shameful Israelites by interceding for them through prayer. Because of Moses’ prayer, God saved Israel from sudden destruction. They still received the punishment of never entering the Promised Land, but they experienced the power and mercy of being visited by God’s glory. It is awe-inspiring to think the Holy Perfect God would visit His people with His glory, yet the Scriptures are filled with such visits from the Lord. When God revealed Himself just in time to save Joshua and Caleb from being stoned to death by the angry mob of Israelites, He showed Himself to be Omnipotent (all-powerful) and Merciful. When God’s glory arrives, nothing remains the same. Nahum 1:5 tells us, “The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all who live in it.” We want to invite God’s presence to shake and shape our lives as we glorify His Name and seek to obey His commands through whole-life surrender.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Cultivating Faithfulness!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Fruitful Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Pause IV Day 15 Joy

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Today’s reading is the crown jewel of the book of Habakkuk because it describes the pinnacle of God’s work in His prophet’s heart. Remember where Habakkuk started, and then read these verses. Only the Lord could bring Habakkuk’s wrestling, angry, fearful, indignant heart to a place of complete and utter worship and dependence on God alone.

This is where God longs for each of our hearts to journey towards!

Trust.
Reliance.
Adoration.

Not for circumstances, but in spite of them.

Notice Habakkuk’s determined statement of faith, “I will rejoice in the Lord, Yahweh. I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Habakkuk resolutely chose joy in the face of exile, because He intimately knew the goodness of his God!

As we close out Pause 4 and our study of the ancient prophet, Habakkuk, know that his God is your God. We pray your heart has been encouraged because you have come to know Him better, which will result in deep joy!

Today's Invitation

1) Read through Habakkuk 3:17-19 out loud today twice. Slowly. Explore deeper by studying some cross-references or write out your own version of these verses using your circumstances. Give them over to the Lord as you pray!

2) Here is our last hand-crafted Spotify playlist for Pause 4! Remember, you are prayed over and delighted in! Put this playlist on repeat this weekend and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause 4! Remember Habakkuk set this last passage to a song as an offering to the Lord from his heart. Let your worship be an act of joy before your God!

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Habakkuk 3:17-19

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
He makes my feet like the deer’s;
He makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause IV Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause IV!